Decorative Accessory

ABSTRACT

A worktop accessory, which includes an elongate body defining a first side extendible along a worktop edge and a second side extendible along a surface against which the worktop edge abuts, at least one attachment formation provided on at least one of the first side and the second side, the attachment formations for attaching the elongate body, and a flexible skirt extending along at least a portion of one side of the elongate body, the flexible skirt arranged for engaging any one of the worktop surface and the abutting surface.

THIS INVENTION relates to a decorative accessory. More particularly, theinvention relates to a worktop accessory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The inventor is aware decorative strips for sealing edges of worktops,kitchen tops, baths, basins and the like. However, the inventor foundthat it is sometimes difficult to install and properly seal the edge ofthe worktop, especially when the worktop has an uneven upper surface,such as at joints or the like. In this specification reference to theterm “worktop” should be interpreted as including reference to baths,sinks, basins, floors, cupboards, window- and door frames, and the like,which are to be sealed around their edges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a worktopaccessory, which includes

-   -   an elongate body defining a first side extendible along a        worktop edge and a second side extendible along a surface        against which the worktop edge abuts;    -   at least one attachment formation provided on at least one of        the first side and the second side, the attachment formations        for attaching the elongate body; and    -   a flexible skirt extending along at least a portion of one side        of the elongate body, the flexible skirt arranged for engaging        any one of the worktop surface and the abutting surface.

The flexible skirt may be arranged, in use to engage any one of theworktop surface and the abutting surface to form at least a partialliquid seal between the elongate body and one of the worktop surface andthe abutting surface.

The flexible skirt may be in the form of a blade extending along atleast one side of the elongate body.

The blade may be resilient and may have a stiffness to allow the bladeto be hand deformable during installation.

For example, if the worktop accessory is installed by hand, the blademay deform to engage the surface against which it abuts for at least aportion of the length of the blade.

The blade may be biased towards the abutting surface which is to besealed, the blade, when installed, defining a partial liquid sealagainst the surface.

The blade may therefore be biased, in operation to maintain a liquidseal with a surface having minor surface irregularities, or in aninstallation where minor surface movement between the worktop and theabutting surface may occur during or after installation.

The inventor believes that the flexible skirt, which engages the surfaceto be sealed, will define an aesthetically pleasing finish between thetwo surfaces.

The attachment formation may be in the form of a recess or a slotextending at least partially over the length of the side, the slot forreceiving an adhesive substance such as glue, silicone, or the like.

The attachment formation may be in the form of a set of apertures, a setof fastening clips or a laterally extending wing.

In one embodiment, the attachment formation may be for attaching to theworktop surface or the abutting surface, or both. In another embodiment,the attachment formation may be for mounting to a mounting accessory,which is attachable to any one of the worktop surface and the abuttingsurface.

The worktop accessory may include a mounting interface, in use mountableto any one of the worktop surface and the abutting surface, the mountinginterface also removably attachable to a cooperating attachmentformation on any one of the first side and the second side of theelongate body of the worktop accessory.

The mounting interface may be in the form of an elongate strip which ismountable to any one or both of a worktop and an abutting surface, theelongate strip including attachment means which is attachable to thematched attachment formation on the elongate body.

The attachment means and the attachment formation may define a set offriction-fit pins and socket formations.

The attachment means and the attachment formation may define afriction-fit ridge and slot formation.

The elongate body may include a decorative element extending at leastpartially along the length of the body.

The decorative element may be in the form of any one of a profile of thebody, an engraved pattern on the body, and a decorative film attached toand extending substantially along the length of the elongate body. Forexample, the decorative film may be a metal cladding, or may be colouredto look like metal such as aluminium.

Any one of the body and the flexible skirt may be manufactured of asynthetic plastic material. The synthetic plastic material may be anyone of mildew free, mould free, oil resistant, fire resistant, and stainproof.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided aworktop accessory, which includes an elongate body defining a first sideextendible along a worktop edge and a second side extendible along anabutting surface against which the worktop edge abuts, any one of thefirst and the second side defining a laterally extending wing.

The wing may be in the form of a sheet which may be deformable duringinstallation of the worktop accessory. For example, during installation,the wing may be bent over the edge of the worktop. In particular, when aworktop is to be tiled into position, the wing may project towards theedge of the worktop and tiles may be placed in position on the abuttingsurface extending from the wing away from the worktop accessory.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only withreference to the following drawings:

DRAWINGS

In the drawing(s):

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of worktop accessory, in accordance with theinvention in side view;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the worktop accessory of FIG. 1 in use;

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of the invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 a worktop accessory 10 is shown in side elevation. The worktopaccessory includes an elongate body 12 which defines two sides 12.1 and12.2.

The worktop accessory 10 further includes a flexible skirt 14, whichextends along the side 12.2 of the elongate body. The flexible skirt 14is of a resilient, rubber type material which is biased in the directionof arrow 16.

The body 12 of the worktop accessory 10 may be of another syntheticmaterial which is fire retardant, oil proof and the like.

A can be seen, attachment formations 12.11, 12.12 and 12.21 are definedon the sides 12.1 and 12.2 respectively. The attachment formations12.11, 12.12, 12.21 are in the form of recesses for accommodating anadhesive such as silicone, or the like.

In FIG. 2 the worktop accessory 10 of FIG. 1 is shown in use.

The worktop accessory is shown installed on a kitchen top 18 (shown inbroken line) which abuts a wall 20 (also shown in broken line). Thekitchen top 18 includes a joint 22 in the form of a metal strip. Thejoint defines an irregularity on the kitchen top surface 18.1.

As can be seen the skirt 14 is in the form of a blade biased in thedirection of arrow 16, see FIG. 1.

When installed, the blade 14 is bent upwards in the opposite directionof arrow 16. The blade 16 is therefore biased against the worktopsurface 18.1.

An adhesive is provided in the recesses 12.11, 12.12 and 12.21 to ensurea secure fixture between the accessory 10 and the wall 20 and theworktop surface 18 respectively. The adhesive in the recesses 12.11,12.12 and 12.21 provide a seal between the accessory and the worktop 18and wall 20.

It is to be appreciated that the joint 22 defines an irregularity whichis difficult to accommodate on the straight edge of the side 12.2.However, the adhesive in the recess 12.21 and the blade 16 provide asecure seal between the worktop surface 18.1 and the wall 20.

The blade 16, being resiliently deformable however, provides anaesthetically pleasing finish on the edge of the worktop surface 18.1.The blade 14 being biased in the direction 16 accommodates theirregularity caused by the joint 22 in the worktop surface 18.1.Furthermore, the blade 14 provides a partial liquid seal to prevent anyliquids spilled on the worktop surface 18.1 from reaching the side 12.2of the accessory body 12.

In FIG. 3 another worktop accessory 30 is shown having an elongate body32 defining two sides 32.1, 32,2 which are extendible along a worktopedge and an abutting surface respectively.

The elongate body is attachable to a mounting interface 34 in the formof an elongate attachment strip which is attachable to any one or bothof a worktop edge and an abutting surface. The attachment strip 34includes a friction fit slot formation 36 which is attachable to afriction fit ridge 38 on the body 32 of the worktop accessory 30.

If desired, a decorative element in the form of a film may be providedon the operatively outwardly facing surface of the body 32.

In FIG. 4 another worktop accessory 40 is shown having an elongate body42 defining two sides 42.1 42.2, which are extendible along a worktopedge and an abutting surface respectively.

In the example of FIG. 4, the elongate body 42 is attachable to only oneof the worktop edge and the abutting surface. The worktop accessory 40includes an attachment formation in the form of a recess 42.21 foraccommodating an adhesive, similar to the worktop accessory 10 shown inFIG. 1. As can be seen a wing 44 extends from the side 42.1, the wingdefining another attachment formation. In particular, when the worktopaccessory 40 is to be used where the abutting surface is to be tiled,the wing can be attached to the abutting surface by tiling the wing 44into position.

The elongate body 42 defines a decorative element in the form of apleasing profile 42.3 of the body 42.

The inventor believes that the invention is of particular importancewhere edges of worktops, basins, shower doors, baths and the like are tobe sealed.

The elongate bodies 12, 32, 40 may be flexible thereby to be attachableto a curved abutting surface. The blade 14 of the body 12 beingresiliently deformable in combination with the flexible body 12 defininga worktop accessory operable to accommodate curved abutting surfaces.

The inventor believes that the invention provides a new worktopaccessory which is not know in the particular field of technology.

1. A worktop accessory comprising: an elongate body defining a firstside extendible along a worktop edge and a second side extendible alonga surface against which the worktop edge abuts; at least one attachmentformation provided on at least one of the first side and the secondside, the attachment formations for attaching the elongate body; and aflexible skirt extending along at least a portion of one side of theelongate body, the flexible skirt arranged for engaging any one of theworktop surface and the abutting surface.
 2. A worktop accessory asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible skirt is arranged, in use toengage any one of the worktop surface and the abutting surface to format least a partial liquid seal between the elongate body and one of theworktop surface and the abutting surface.
 3. A worktop accessory asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the flexible skirt is in the form of a bladeextending along at least one side of the elongate body.
 4. A worktopaccessory as claimed in claim 3, wherein the blade is resilient and havea stiffness to allow the blade to be hand deformable duringinstallation.
 5. A worktop accessory as claimed in claim 4, wherein theblade is biased towards the abutting surface which is to be sealed, theblade, when installed, defining a partial liquid seal against thesurface.
 6. A worktop accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein theattachment formation is in the form of a recess or a slot extending atleast partially over the length of the side, the slot for receiving anadhesive substance such as glue, silicone, or the like.
 7. A worktopaccessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment formation is inthe form of a set of apertures.
 8. A worktop accessory as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the attachment formation is in the form of a set offastening clips.
 9. A worktop accessory as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe attachment formation is in the form of a laterally extending wing.10. A worktop accessory as claimed in claim 1, further comprising amounting interface, in use mountable to any one of the worktop surfaceand the abutting surface, the mounting interface also removablyattachable to the cooperating attachment formations.
 11. A worktopaccessory as claimed in claim 9, wherein the mounting interface is inthe form of an elongate strip which is mountable to any one or both of aworktop and an abutting surface, the elongate strip including attachmentmeans which is attachable to the matched attachment formation on theelongate body.
 12. A worktop accessory as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe attachment means and the attachment formation define a set offriction-fit pins and socket formations
 13. A worktop accessory asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the attachment means and the attachmentformation define a friction-fit ridge and slot formation.
 14. A worktopaccessory as claimed claim 1, wherein the elongate body includes adecorative element extending at least partially along the length of thebody.
 15. A worktop accessory as claimed in claim 14, wherein thedecorative element is in the form of any one of a profile of the body,an engraved pattern on the body, and a decorative film attached to andextending substantially along the length of the elongate body.
 16. Aworktop accessory as claimed in claim 1, wherein any one of the body andthe flexible skirt is manufactured of a synthetic plastic material. 17.A worktop accessory as claimed in claim 16, wherein the syntheticplastic material is any one of mildew free, mould free, oil resistant,fire resistant, and stain proof.
 18. A worktop accessory, comprising anelongate body defining a first side extendible along a worktop edge anda second side extendible along an abutting surface against which theworktop edge abuts, any one of the first and the second sides defining alaterally extending wing.
 19. A worktop accessory as claimed in claim18, wherein in which the wing is in the form of a sheet which may bedeformable during installation of the worktop accessory.
 20. (canceled)21. (canceled)